Hansard - National RSA program needs to be introduced - July 17, 2014

Posted July 17, 2014

CATHY McGOWAN (Indi) (13:42): There is a red-tape problem in my electorate. A group of winemakers from the Rutherglen district recently met with me (pictured). The wineries are constantly looking for ways to promote their excellent blends, and one of the most effective tools is to appear at wine shows.

Winemakers in Indi regularly travel interstate, but they face a major issue: the necessity for multiple responsible service of alcohol, or RSA, certificates, as each state has its own regulations. This impacts on the wineries through added costs and paperwork.

It also impacts on the people, many of them young, who serve at wineries, because of the cost in time and money to obtain several RSA certificates, which imposes more red tape. The cost to obtain an RSA varies from $70 in Victoria through $80 in South Australia and Queensland up to $150 in New South Wales.

The government has strongly committed to getting rid of red tape for business. The good news is that this would be a very easy fix. I call on the Minister for Small Business, Bruce Billson, to talk to the Minister for Education, Christopher Pyne, to look to the potential for a national RSA certificate.

Let us rationalise the RSA as a demonstration to all Australians that the government really is keen to get rid of red tape, listens to young people and is particularly passionate about supporting the winemakers of Australia.